The Wilted Flower

“The Wilted Flower” I have a distant memory Which increasingly fades with time Of a seemingly different life when I was happy without strife I smiled without guilt I loved and accepted all I did not care what others thought Because I liked myself But then I let the world in My tragic and grievous mistake If I could go back, I'd change my choice And not succumb to their sweet, but poisonous words They could not stand it Seeing me so joyous Didn't you know that love is dangerous? Fearing the power that I contained through this beautiful feeling They convinced me I would be better off if I fit in They pointed out my flaws Made me feel worthless Broke me down beyond repair Then rebuilt me in their image Like a flower shielded from the sun, I began to wilt I changed into a person I could no longer recognize No longer the person I wanted to be, but the person others told me I should be I became tired, dazed, drained, defeated Lost in a hellish maze with no escape I gave in Did what they told me Listened to them Became a perfect copy Now I am skinny and pretty and dead inside. ~Serena Mott